“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Romans 6:22).
Freedom is a word freely kicked around in our society—it is a concept so many claim to cherish—but it is almost always used in connection with things material. The reality is that it has a much more lasting meaning to the servant of Jesus Christ than it does to others in our world.
When the Christian claims freedom, he (or she) is laying claim to the promise of eternal life with God made possible by the sacrifice Jesus made when he shed His blood on the cross, thus paying the price for “freedom” from our past sins.
As Paul discloses, the one who has been set free from sin and its consequences has automatically made himself a slave of God. As such, he turns his vision to the goal of everlasting life, based on—that is, giving evidence of—his having lived a holy life.
The picture is clear, and the path well laid out: If our desire for heaven is real, we must remove all pride, resistance, and rebellion and earnestly contend for the faith we have espoused—we must live a life devoted to God and the Cause of Jesus Christ.